Wilma Rudolph: A Biography »

MAUREEN M. SMITH is a Professor at California State University, Sacramento in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Science.

Wilma Rudolph was born into a large family and struggled with health problems for the first several years of her life, including polio. Though she had trouble even walking, her love of sport and movement motivated her to rehabilitate her legs. Rudolph would blossom into athletic talent and after earning a scholarship to Tennessee State, qualified for the 1960 Olympic Games where she became the first American woman to win three gold medals in track and field.

Throughout her life, Wilma Rudolph faced many barriers and yet she was able to overcome the odds to become an Olympic gold medalist. After hanging up her spikes, Wilma would teach second grade and coach track at her former high school. This work describes her life in detail, and includes a timeline of significant events in her life.

Foreword

Introduction

A Legend is Born--The Early Days of Wilma Rudolph

Wima Removes the Leg Braces and Gets Involved in Athletics

Meeting Ed Temple and Running with the Tenessee State Tigerbelles

Running at the 1956 Olympic Games

Coming Home to Burt High School

Becoming a Tennessee State Tigerbelle

Willma Runs to History at the 1960 Olympic Games

Wilma's Post-Olympic Competitions

Wilma Rudolph--An American Image

Hanging Up the Spikes: Wilma in Retirement

Wilma on Wilma--Writing Her Own Story

The Legacy of WIlma Rudolph--From Evely Ashford to Marion Jones

Appendix

Bigliography

Index